UCSD has changed dramatically over the last 30 years. When I attended the school back in the early 90s, there was plenty of housing for first and second year students and even some third year students in the apartments. However, UCSD has doubled in 30 years. The apartments on campus, which I lived in which were made for four people are now home for five. What they did was simply cram in more students in the same area of space. Making doubles now triples. However, they are building so many new dorms, that I am also surprised that they cannot provide the students housing for more than two years. Moreover, university city is pretty tight in terms of finding places to live and can be relatively expensive. It might cost $750-1000 a month to double up with someone. At UCLA, I’m not exactly sure, but I think they can guarantee, four years of housing not only because they built new housing but also because these dorms might be quads.
We have one student at each (UCLA and UCSD), and they both were put into triples their first year that technically were designed to be doubles. Especially the older dorms at UCLA (the “classic halls”), those rooms are SMALL. Some of the newer buildings are better. In my daughter’s case at UCSD (Sixth College), there are almost all doubles and they are more spacious. The reason she ended up in a triple is that for this year in particular they had to take students who would have been in Eighth (still under construction, now opening up) and Marshall (under renovation), and put them in other buildings for the year. However, her double turned triple is like a palace compared to her brother’s first year dorm room in a Classic triple at UCLA.
He’s now off campus and he lucked into a good location and price for an apartment he shares with one roommate, but even a shared one bedroom apartment is costing us $1100 in rent in Westwood.
Those will get sent to all admitted students. If you can’t go, don’t worry. They are general chances to ask questions and meet a few other prospective students. If possible, it’s much more useful to be able to attend Triton Day in campus in April. There will also be some virtual events you can attend if need be. But definitely don’t worry about changing plans to go to a local reception.
D24 Accepted, sixth college I think (what is the difference?)
Major: Communication
UC Unweighted GPA: 3.95
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.33 (iirc)
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.33 (OOS and those were the 4 APs she took 10-11)
Comments about course load (including senior year):
Number of a-g courses: she messed this up and underreported, and they wouldn’t take the correction, but I think actual was 24.5
Number of UC-approved honors courses: 8 APs. All her core courses were honors, but OOS honors not considered here
AP Courses/exams : three 5s so far
SUBJECTIVE::
Extracurriculars: some cool and unique performance ECs, sports (time-consuming but nothing wildly impressive), activism and volunteering
Supplemental/Augmented Review: No
DEMOGRAPHICS::
State/location of HS (if domestic applicant): Out of state
First Generation? No
Other acceptances/waitlists/denials:
Accepted: UCI, Loyola Marymount, SDSU, Cal Poly SLO, Cal Poly Pomona, University of San Diego, UIUC
Waitlist: UCLA.
UCSD has eight residential colleges. Students can pursue any major from any college, but their general education requirements depend on their college. The college is also a residential community.
Sixth college was recently moved to new buildings near the center of campus. My son was admitted to sixth college last year, so he toured it, and thought it was great! However all the colleges have their good points and there are no horrible colleges to avoid at UCSD.
Students generally can’t change which college they were assigned, but since you can do any major from any college, it all works out.
S24
Decision: Rejected
Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Physics
ACADEMIC STATS::
UC Unweighted GPA: 3.75
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.08
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.08
ELC (top 9% CA HS): Yes
Number of a-g courses: 44
Number of UC Approved Honors courses: 16
AP courses/exams (scores in parentheses): 9 (2 x 4, 3 and 2 (Calc BC, got a 3 on the AB subsection))
Extracurriculars: Some School Clubs, highlighted informal leadership
Job/Work Experience: No
Volunteer/Community service: Minimal
Summer Activities: preCalc through U Utah (Online)
Personal Insight essays (general details/topics): Strong, worked quite a while on these and gave insight into some unique experiences and his personality
Supplemental/Augmented Review: No
DEMOGRAPHICS::
State/location of HS (if domestic applicant): Northern CA, Peninsula
Applied for need-based financial aid? No
First Generation? No
Accepted: CU Boulder, UCSC, UCR, Cal Poly Pomona, SJSU
Waitlisted: UW
Declined: UCI, UCD, UCLA, UCSD
Deferred: USC EA
Based on the recent angst (probably to strong a word) on DS college assignment - ERC for an engineering major is not thought of as a good fit. I have some homework to do here but would appreciate any thoughts from others on pros, cons and “strategies” on approaching the GE requirements. At first blush the MMW, 1-year language, etc does add to the work effort. Just not sure how much.
Thoughts so far has been tackling parts during a summer or two. Could think of worse things to do for a summer.
Son is positive on the colleges service orientation (HS was service focused) but concerned about the demands of engineering vs the additional GE workload and focus.
Compare UC San Diego Colleges (ucsd.edu)
I found this helpful and son picked Muir College.
At least last year, most students we knew did not get their first college choice. (and many also didn’t get their second choice… or even third choice.) So it’s not just about picking a college, especially since you can’t change your college. It is understandable when students are surprised or disappointed.
However the students we know who ended up enrolling all ended up happy enough with their college assignments.
Yes that’s conventional wisdom and makes sense – Perhaps someone here has first hand experience with the ERC GEs and can help. Or you could start a new thread about GEs in the general UCSD forum area to maybe get some parents of current students who aren’t reading this 2028 thread.
Granted. You still have to pick a college on the application. S24 picked Muir and got his first choice.
OP is asking about strategy on GE. Having a list side by side, I have found is very helpful.
Got into
I could not open the compare UCSD colleges website as my computer’s browser flagged the site as “not secure”. Anyone have any particular comments about Revelle College itself and the dorms for Revelle?
You have UCSC which is a great option.
Each specific UC campus looks for different attributes in the applicants so there is no way to guess or predict your admission outcomes. UCSC liked what they saw and made the admission offer.
Remember UCSC may have been a target/likely school for you, but it could be another applicant’s dream school. What you do now is love the school that loves you back. In the end you can only attend 1 college.
I also get the “not secure” on the browser. But I have used it and it’s (to me) a legit UCSD site.
My current first year at UCSD is in Sixth College. It’s a very good, central location and new in 2020 so the buildings are in good condition. There’s an Amazon Market and many restaurants/dining options right there. The housing is mostly doubles within suites for first years (though as you can see above, this year most doubles became triples while they finished Eighth College and renovated Marshall – I expect they will go back to doubles next year). And then in your second year it’s apartment-style living in suites that have full kitchens (again mostly double occupancy in terms of the actual rooms).
The GE requirements for Sixth are fairly mild and are focused around the college theme of “Culture Arts and Technology” – between her first year classes and the AP credits she had coming in to UCSD, my daughter is almost finished with GEs already.
If you have other questions, happy to answer! It’s hard if not impossible to switch colleges at UCSD. But Sixth is a good one – one of the more desired colleges because of facilities and location.
My son was assigned Eighth College. Was his fourth choice. I wonder why 6th, 7th, 8th don’t have “names”? Wil that come in time?
A friend who attended UCSD some time ago told me that they were originally all supposed to have names, and when Sixth was founded (2002 I think?) it was also supposed to have a name but then they stuck with Sixth for some reason? And then Seventh and Eighth followed the lead of Sixth?
That is all very vague, and the bottom line is that I don’t know… maybe someone here has more history 
Running out of people worthy to name the college after. I for sure would not want a Pete Wilson, Arnold S, Jerry Brown, or Newsome College. May be Ron Reagan. I liked him.
Thanks. It still not opening for me probably the anti-virus software settings on my computer. But anyway does anyone have experience or insight, personal or through their kids about Revelle?